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(01/31/95 10:00am)
If everything goes according to schedule, former University student Lisa Topol will be in federal court in April. Topol, who has accused former Assistant English Professor Malcolm Woodfield of sexual harassment, filed suit against the University, claiming that the University violated her rights by failing to resolve her complaint over an extended period of time. Woodfield has admitted that he engaged in sexual relations with Topol and that this was unethical under the University's policies. He resigned last April amidst hearings investigating the matter. Topol's suit charges that "administrators failed to investigate her complaints, or otherwise take any action to determine whether or not there existed grounds to suspend or terminate Woodfield." It asks that Topol be compensated "for wages and fringe benefits" that she has lost due to her relationship with Woodfield and for wages that she is likely to lose." It also demands that the University pay Topol for "anguish and humiliation, physical and mental pain and suffering, and loss of life's pleasures." According to University attorneys, this case is currently "in discovery" -- which is a process before a trial when the parties exchange information. Alice Ballard, Topol's lawyer, said the case is still in discovery because the University has not finished Topol's deposition, and she is still waiting for the University to produce some of the witnesses she has asked to examine. Ballard added, though, that the discovery period should be concluded within the next few weeks. She said the parties are filing pre-trial statements on February 6 -- at which point each side will lay out their witnesses and all of the evidence that will be used. She added that she expects a trial in April. But Green was less confident about the trial date, projecting that it will occur later than Ballard said. "It will be in the trial pool sometime in April, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be tried then," she said. "It can be tried anytime after [April]." Topol also filed a suit against Bates College in Maine -- where Woodfield taught for two years before arriving at the University -- for allegedly withholding information of other sexual harassment accusations against Woodfield. Bates College failed to inform the University of the complaints and the subsequent proceedings and also failed to update the positive references it had previously offered, the suit charges. Ballard said the case is in litigation, but that there are a number of outstanding motions holding it up. She added that the judge has to make some crucial decisions in this case before it can proceed. "These motions go directly to the heart of whether we can even sue Bates in Philadelphia," she said. Ballard said the timing on this trial is much harder to predict, because there are more uncertain points to clear up. "It could go to trial on roughly the same schedule [as the case against the University], but given its status it is quite indeterminant when anything will happen," she said. Topol is also suing Woodfield in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. But according to Ballard, "nothing is going on" with this case. "That is sitting because we are concentrating our efforts on Penn and Bates," she said. She added that the case against Woodfield "will go off-hold when these other two cases are done."
(01/31/95 10:00am)
Wharton graduate student Michael Hsueh helplessly watched the satellite broadcasts of the destruction caused by the earthquake in Kobe, Japan. But with the aid of a small group of fellow students, he turned his frustration into action. In an effort to support quake victims by raising relief funds, the students began soliciting donations from students and faculty. Hsueh, who was born in Taiwan, spent a year in Japan as an exchange student, and later returned to work there for nearly four more years. He said these experiences made the earthquake much more meaningful to him than to most other University students. "One of the purposes of this effort was to?hopefully inspire other students and groups to get involved and help out," he said. The Japan Global Connection and the Wharton Japan Society have already assisted him in his fundraising efforts. In addition, Hsueh is hoping that Wharton faculty members will be able to contribute to his cause. For some students, the reality of the quake has hit home. Wharton MBA student Bruce Atkins was stunned by news of the earthquake since his wife is from the Kobe region and still has family living nearby. "The first week of classes after winter break, both of us were numb," he said. "It was a really weird feeling." Kurihiki Higashi, another Wharton MBA student, was directly affected by the quake. Both his aunt and grandmother were caught inside their house as it collapsed. His aunt remains in the hospital. Hsueh said he hopes to alleviate this type of suffering, and is currently searching for an organization willing to distribute the relief funds. Beginning today, the groups will place donation boxes in Vance Hall. Their efforts will culminate on Thursday when they plan to hold "Japan Night" at the MBA Pub in Vance Hall. They will be accepting donations at the door. The night will include a tea ceremony at 6 p.m. and a Shoirnji Kempo martial arts exhibition. The festivities will continue in Mayer Hall at 6:30 p.m. with an exploration of Sumo wrestling. Japan's Asahi Corporation has donated its "Superdry Beer," to be served at the MBA Pub Thursday night. Donations can be sent to the Wharton Graduate Association for the Japan Global Collection Kobe Earthquake Relief Fund.
(01/31/95 10:00am)
Arguments in the University's appeal of an age discrimination suit filed by a former employee of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania were heard last week by the Third Circuit District Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. Janet Smithgall, a former HUP employee, filed suit in 1992 claiming that the University and HUP had discriminated against her because of her age and retaliated against her for a previous age discrimination complaint. A jury found the University and HUP not guilty of age discrimination or retaliation but did find the University in violation of a 1990 settlement reached in response to Smithgall's first charge of age discrimination. The settlement called for the University to re-hire Smithgall for 10 months, reimburse her for certain lost benefits and consider her for a future permanent position. A jury found in December 1993 that the University had failed to fulfill its contractual obligations to Smithgall and awarded her $70,000 in compensatory damages, according to Smithgall's attorney Glenn Clark. The damages stemmed from the University's failure to allow her to be considered for other positions, he said. Post-trial motions filed by Hope Cominsky, the University's attorney in the case, asking the judge to reverse the jury's decision, were denied last May. Cominsky said the University disagrees with the jury's decision. "Our argument to the Third Circuit was that we had complied with all three provisions," she said. "I think the judges are very concerned [with the jury's decision]." She added that judges of the Third Circuit do not always agree to hear arguments in this type of case. But Clark claims the University did not comply with the 1990 settlement, characterizing the University's contention that employing Smithgall for 10 months was sufficient as "the most ludicrous theory that you could imagine." The original complaint filed by Smithgall in 1992 alleged that the University had retaliated against her for filing an age discrimination complaint in 1990. According to the original complaint, Smithgall was discharged in 1989 from her position at HUP, supposedly due to a lack of funding. But the complaint alleged that three days later, a 23-year-old was hired to replace Smithgall. Ten months after reaching a settlement with the University, the now 65-year-old Smithgall filed suit, claiming that the University had failed to comply with the settlement. The suit accused the University of retaliation for "unilaterally and arbitrarily changing [Smithgall's] job description so as to exclude all professional duties?[reducing] her position to that of a clerk." The Third Circuit is expected to rule on the University's appeal within the next six weeks.
(01/31/95 10:00am)
Some doubt its potential impact The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but reaction to proposals advanced this week by the Student Judicial Reform Committee has been strong and immediate. Faculty members such as History Professor Bruce Kuklick, who felt the sting of repeated cheating scandals five years ago in his History 451 class -- or Alan Kors, who represented College junior and Daily Pennsylvanian staff photographer Eden Jacobowitz during the "water buffalo" case in 1993 -- contend that the new charter is seriously flawed. But Provost Stanley Chodorow said he is "very pleased" with the proposed Student Judicial Charter and Code of Academic Integrity, drafts of which are currently available for comment. Still, disagreement lingers about the function of student-faculty hearing boards that the charter creates. Chodorow believes they should make recommendations to him or his designee, while SJRC members want to empower the boards to render binding decisions. Chodorow, however, remains optimistic. "I had a series of very good meetings with the committee," he said. "We were able to clarify the issues and to have very good discussions of them." Kuklick said his sense of the draft -- from prior discussion with Chodorow -- is that the charter "gives students much more leeway than they ought to have," since it provides for near-equal student and faculty representation on the hearing boards. "It is absolutely clear that students should be summarily punished, and my feeling is that all of this stuff weighs things too heavily in favor of the poor, beleaguered students who might be wrongly accused," Kuklick said. Kuklick also said he understands Chodorow's contention that a student-run honor system would work best, because it would allow students to police themselves. But Kuklick said he believes that at a large school like the University, where many students think they can cheat without consequence, such an honor system is "naive and idealistic." "I hope that if I catch students cheating, this [charter] will not prevent me from making decisions about what I ought to do," he said. "I hope it will be a help and not a hindrance?I don't want to see a system in place that will diminish the prerogatives of the faculty in dealing with this." Kors said he is opposed to University intervention in any criminal or civil matter that would ordinarily be argued and settled in a court of law. Characterizing the draft document as "a nightmare of structural detail without procedural protection," he added that as the charter now stands, it deprives the parties involved of rules of fairness and stipulations of due process. "It gives absolute discretion to the judicial system to put someone through the terror of hearings," Kors said. He cited the proposed charter's lack of a presumption of innocence, burden of proof, specific time-frame, right to confront one's accusers, to cross-examination of witnesses and to an advisor who can intervene on a respondent's behalf as among its many problems. But even when dealing with alleged violations of the academic integrity code -- a function that Kors said is within the University's jurisdiction -- he stressed the importance of system-wide due process aimed at protecting the accused from arbitrary persecution. "Since there are no procedural or substantive protections of one who is accused, this is only not a kangaroo court if one imagines saints and the just administering it," Kors said. College junior Wilton Levine, who chaired the student judicial charter working group, said he hopes that before Feb. 17, members of the University community who have concrete suggestions for improving the draft document -- which appears today in Almanac -- will send their ideas to the SJRC's e-mail account, judicial@pobox. Chodorow said he is confident that after receiving feedback from the University community, he and University President Judith Rodin will resolve the issue of hearing board jurisdiction based on the system's organizing principles. Following that decision, the final document will be referred to the University's General Counsel's Office, which will develop "the detailed regulations," said Chodorow.
(01/31/95 10:00am)
The future of Murphy's Tavern may be in question after Liquor Control Board officers raided the bar Friday. As a result of the raid, 63 citations were issued to underage drinkers, according to Bettina Bunting, an enforcement officer in the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement of the Pennsylvania State Police. A team of undercover enforcement officers from the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control entered Murph's at approximately 12:45 a.m. Saturday, Bunting said. At approximately 1:05 a.m., the rest of the team entered and held an open inspection. Twenty-six minors and one juvenile were apprehended and issued non-traffic citations for underage drinking, Bunting said. She added that they were assisted by uniformed officers of the Philadelphia Police Department. Bunting said it is not typical for her department to discover so many underage drinkers in one establishment during a raid. "This is not a common occurrence and has not been since the liquor code was amended in 1987," she said. The new law sets a minimum penalty of $1,000 on an organization if they are found guilty of selling alcohol to minors. According to Liquor Control Board spokesperson Donna Pinkham, Murph's has been operating without a license since October 31 of last year -- when it was issued a notice of objection to renewal of its license, alleging that "they have abused their licensing privileges." Pinkham said all licenses for establishments in the Philadelphia area are eligible for renewal every October 31. Murph's received a warning on October 31, 1993 -- based on its prior record. According to Pinkham, this means that its history was "bad, but not bad enough to warrant non-renewal." Bunting said the tavern has received nine citations since its license was issued in 1960, each one charging it with sale of alcohol to minors. But although the bar's license was suspended for short periods of time, it was never revoked, she added. Pinkham added that as of November 4, the bar has been operating under temporary authority from the board until the LCB reaches a final decision. Murph's is permitted to operate under these conditions until the board reaches its decision or until October 31, whichever comes first, Bunting said. This hearing is scheduled for March 24, she said. Bunting said this incident will be cited on the tavern's license, adding that the corporate officers, Joseph and James Murphy, have the option of requesting a hearing before an administrative law judge who will decide whether the LCB bureau has met the burden of proving their case. Although neither LCB official knew what the next step in the proceedings would be, Joe Murphy said last night that he has two hearings coming up. He refused any further comment. Bunting said her department is not finished with their review of the establishment.
(01/31/95 10:00am)
The competition was fierce at the University's fifth annual College Bowl Tournament this past weekend as 40 schools from across the country battled for the bowl title. The largest competition of its kind, the College Bowl drew 64 teams, totaling nearly 350 players, coaches and game officials in attendance. "Around 30 percent of the participants were females, an all-time high," said Pat Matthews, assistant coach for the University team. She explained that two groups of four players answered trivia questions to earn points for their teams. The questions started with a "difficult" clue, followed by a "hard" clue, and ending with an "easy" one. Questions included, "What is the capital of Tanzania?" and "Who was the 23rd President?" They were followed by additional clues until the answer was determined. The College Bowl Tournament took place in the Towne Building, David Rittenhouse Laboratory and Bennett Hall. The University of Chicago won the competition overall, followed by the University of Maryland, Harvard University and Georgia Tech. "[The bowl] was by far the largest tournament I've ever played in," University of Chicago senior John Sheahan said. He added that he believes it is "what Jeopardy would be like if you didn't have to take into account the intelligence level of the average TV viewer." Emory University senior Tao Nguyen said the tournament was "worth the drive." "It was well-rounded, organized, efficient and excellent," he said. "We got to play against a lot of teams we don't usually see." Wharton senior Jeff Gordon coordinated this year's bowl. He was assisted by 1993 Wharton and College graduate Pat Matthews and Jenny Rosenmount, a 1993 College graduate. The 27-member University team runs the tournament every year and participates in smaller competitions across the nation throughout the fall and spring. This past fall, the team attended tournaments at Georgetown University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Penn State University and Princeton University. In the spring, the team members plan to attend tournaments at Boston University, Cornell, George Washington, Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore. According to Rosenmount, the "Penn Bowl" is regarded as excellent preparation for the February 25 regional tournament at the University and the April 25 national tournament at the University of Akron. The University will be vying for the regional title against Princeton, Swarthmore and NYU, Rosenmount said.
(01/31/95 10:00am)
Strains of French filtered through Harrison Auditorium in the University Museum yesterday afternoon. But the audience was not a class of French 101 students. Rather, it was a celebratory gathering of more than 300 people honoring the centennial of the death of Louis Pasteur. The "American Inaugural Ceremony of the Year of Louis Pasteur," which was organized by the French Institute for Culture and Technology and the Pasteur Foundation, was attended by few University students. "We had the Penn French community and the Philadelphia French community, Penn alumni, Pasteur [Institute] alumni, and friends of the Penn foundation," said Fran_ois Gramet, assistant to the director of the French Institute. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Jacques AndrZani, French ambassador to the United States, who addressed the audience in both English and French. Citing rabies treatment as an example, he praised "the unique capacity of American society to capture, develop and absorb the achievements of other countries in science, technology and economics." In her address, University President Judith Rodin pointed out that the University's founder, Benjamin Franklin, was the first U.S. ambassador to France. Diane Dolto, Philadelphia's city representative for arts and culture, spoke in place of Mayor Ed Rendell -- who was scheduled to speak at the event. "It is impossible to imagine a Philadelphia without its strong French connection," Dolto said. Maxime Schwartz, director general of the Institut Pasteur, said the main purpose of the United Nation's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's "Year of Louis Pasteur" is to make the works of Pasteur and their effects on society better known. He described Pasteur's efforts in preventing infectious disease and the fermentation process in wine, beer and vinegar. He added that Pasteur's work formed the basis for biotechnology. Roy Vagelos, chairman of the University Board of Trustees and former chairman and chief executive officer of the pharmaceutical corporation Merck & Co., Inc., spoke of Pasteur's innovative method of focusing on causes of disease rather than treating the symptoms. Vagelos said this approach has been instrumental in the treatment of modern diseases such as coronary heart disease and benign prostate enlargement. At the end of the ceremony, AndrZani and David Hornbeck, superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, opened the traveling bi-lingual exposition "Louis Pasteur: His Life and His Work." The inaugural ceremony was co-sponsored by the French Institute.
(01/31/95 10:00am)
There are not any air raids in America today. Nor are there missiles falling from the sky. But last night, George Gerbner, former Annenberg School for Communications dean, spoke of war. "This is the end of an era and the beginning of another," he said, referring to the end of the Cold War. "It is the rebirth not of hope, but of tyranny, greed and civil war." In his lecture entitled "The Mean World View: TV's Impact on the Elections," Gerbner spoke at the White Dog Cafe about the impact of television on American society over the past 30 years. Although Gerbner contributed to the media industry as an Annenberg professor and dean from1964 to 1989, his speech condemned the media as an "invisible" but destructive force in the country's social structure. According to Gerbner, a 10 year-old child would be able to list more names of beer brands than American presidents, and is more likely to recognize Joe Camel than Mickey Mouse. "Three entertaining murders a night is the diet of our children," he said. Gerbner attributed the prevalence of violence in television to the economic structure of television programming. He said the fastest way to make money in series television is to expand to the global economy. Violence, which, unlike comedy, is image-driven and understood in any language, "travels" quickly through the global market and dominates the airwaves, Gerbner added. "There is a faster way," he said. "The fastest way is violent programming. It travels faster in a global market. Comedy doesn't travel so well." The economic factors involved in production force producers to fit their shows into the global market, he said. The market has created a violent "cultural environment" that is not limited to the media. Gerbner spoke about the "mean world" television has created as the major challenge our country must face. "It is in response to that challenge that the Cultural Environment Movement is working," he said. "You realize individual citizen initiative is the only way out -- if any." Gihon Jordan, a 1973 University graduate, agreed with Gerbner that if children watch enough television, it warps their perception of life. "They are very fearful and close-minded of other cultures," he said. "They say you live in West Philly and it must be dangerous because I saw it on the news the other day. They think, I'm in control and I'm safe in a car. But at least in West Philly you can talk to your neighbors -- they watch TV inside."
(01/31/95 10:00am)
Men and women are on different brain waves. According to researchers at the University's Medical Center, behavioral differences between the sexes can be attributed to actual physiological differences. Men tend to deal with emotions through actions and physical aggression while women mediate their emotions more symbolically such as through vocalization, according to Ruben Gur, director of the Brain Behavior Laboratory and professor of psychology in psychiatry. The part of the brain utilized more heavily by men is less developed and is similar to that of reptiles and lower species. Lying below the corpus collosum, the temporal limbic system controls more primitive responses, the findings state. Women, on the other hand, primarily use the cingulate gyrus in their cognitive process. This part of the brain evolved later and is more refined and complex. "Instead of acting like a reptile and charging at everything, women are likely to verbalize and say 'I'm mad at you," Gur said. The cingulate gyrus is not present in reptiles, he added. The study, reported in the latest issue of Science, used an imaging technique known as Positron Emission Tomography to monitor activity in different sections of the brain. PET uses short-lived radioactive compounds as tracers to detect glucose metabolism as a measure of brain activity, Gur said. The more active a section of the brain is, the more glucose it will consume. Computers utilize colorful images to display glucose uptake by various regions of the brain. The study compared the rates of metabolism in 37 men and 24 women and noted that in almost all areas of the brain, activity was identical. The only differences noted were those in the limbic system of the brain, the area noted for emotional processing, Gur said. Women were also noted to have a more active left hemisphere, the side more active in verbal and analytical tasks. Men, on the flip side, have greater control over spatial problem-solving and motor tasks, which is connected to the right hemisphere. All subjects selected for the study were right-handed to avoid inconsistencies. Certain variances are bound to occur whenever statistical data is studied, according to Gur. "What shocked me was that many more men than women tended to show opposite sex patterns," Gur said. Of the 61 subjects studied, 13 men displayed typical female brain patterns as opposed to only four females showing typical male patterns. These statistics correspond to recent findings in a nation-wide survey on sexuality, he added. "This may provide a substrate for homosexual behavior," Gur said. "However, we do not have data on the sexual preferences of our subjects."
(01/31/95 10:00am)
Two weeks of roaming about campus, meeting people and dressing to impress paid off for 386 freshman and sophomore women who received bids from eight Panhellenic Council sororities in a tense, crowded Bodek Lounge event Sunday afternoon. "I was completely traumatized," said College freshman Melissa Bernstein, who received a bid from Kappa Alpha Theta. Rush also paid off for the hundreds of sorority sisters and Panhel board members who spent weeks preparing for the highly coordinated events that began two weeks ago tonight. The number of pledges this year was up from last year -- even though fewer rushees began the trip than did last January. And despite some scheduling problems the first night, organizers said the process as a whole was successful. "We had a little bit of timing trouble on the first night but the rest of the two weeks went extremely well," Panhellenic Council President and College senior Suzanne Rosenberg said. The mild weather may have played a large role in the increased numbers -- since last year, women had to trudge through ice and bitter cold. "Thankfully the weather wasn't what it was when I rushed," Rosenberg said. Bernstein said events improved leading up to Sunday. "At the beginning I didn't like it," she said, adding though that as events progressed, each rushee was able to spend more time at individual houses. "As you got down to just four [houses to visit], you just had really good conversations," she said. Every year, about one-third of the original rushees choose not to seek a bid or do not receive one. This year, 220 of the original 606 did not make it to Sunday at Bodek. But some said last night the experience was still worth the effort. And for those that opened bids Sunday, the future holds another busy two weeks and the new experience of pledging. Most new pledges held meetings last night with their respective sororities. This year was the first Panhel rush in 73 years without member chapter Kappa Delta, which declared dormancy last semester due to low membership. The problems KD faced that led up to the disbandment are on the minds of many sisters during bid week -- while each house wants to be selective, there is pressure to not cut too many prospective pledges because only a fraction of those who complete the rush practice will actually receive bids to any given house. But College senior and Vice President of Rush Liz Shain said all Panhel chapters were happy with their pledge numbers. "All the sororities did really well," she said.
(01/31/95 10:00am)
The auditorium of the Christian Association resounded with the voices of over 150 people singing the black spiritual "Wade in the Water." With a message of hope, this song introduced "Coming Out to God," a panel discussion of Christian perspectives on being gay, lesbian, and bisexual. Reverend Beverly Dale, executive director of the Christian Association, said the purpose of Sunday's discussion was not to discuss homosexuality as a choice or as sin, but rather to "acknowledge and celebrate God's love and acceptance of us just as we are." The three panelists responded to questions posed by the moderator, Susan Minasian. All agreed that the question of how to be a gay, lesbian, or bisexual Christian was flawed because they could not exist any other way. "I really have very little choice. God called me to the priesthood," said Reverend Andrew Barasda, an Episcopal priest. "I am indeed a priest who happens to be gay." Reverend Cheryl Harrell, the first ordained, openly lesbian priest in the Boston metropolitan area described her experience in a similar way. "I believe the spirit of Christ has claimed me," she said. Elias Farajaje-Jones, who describes himself as a "two-spirit queer identified bisexual man, anarchist guerrilla theologian, AIDS terrorist, writer, and tenured associate professor at the Howard University School of Divinity" said,"we all live along a fluid, constantly moving, spiral continuum of sexual identity." The speakers also described what they hoped their legacies will one day be. Barasda said he hopes others will feel comfortable with who they are. Laughter erupted when Farajaje-Jones said he expects a "collective sigh of relief" after he dies. In a more serious vein, he added that he hopes the day will come when historically black denominations will ordain gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or questioning clergy. Following the responses to the moderator's questions, all participants observed a moment of silence. The panel then took questions from the audience. Questions dealt with the biblical view of homosexuality, Farajaje-Jones' experiences as the only outwardly gay professor at Howard and the place of transgendered people in Christianity. After the question and answer period, the participants formed a circle around the perimeter of the room. Holding hands, they sang "Wade in the Water" again and listened to a reading from the prophet Amos. They continued discussion in small groups. The audience consisted almost entirely of adults from the local community. "We saw a need for role models," Dale said. "It is possible to be Christian and also gay, lesbian, or bisexual." The event was co-sponsored by the Asbury Campus Ministry at Drexel University, Program for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Community at University of Pennsylvania, Interfaith Working Group for the Fight the Right Network, and Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
(01/30/95 10:00am)
Joe Gallagher did not want to think of University students as common criminals. But an increase in the number of students shoplifting from the Wawa Food Market at 38th and Spruce Streets has left Gallagher, the store's general manager, with no recourse but to crack down on stealing. Gallagher said that although he contacted University Police after a few past incidents, he has generally refrained from calling the police to avoid getting students in serious trouble. Most of the time, Gallagher said, he will yell at the student and make them either pay or return the merchandise. In the future, however, he said he has instructed employees to notify University Police of every incident, to curb the "excessive amounts" of thefts that are "over industry standards." "We're not here to get anyone expelled," he said. "We have a business to run, though. We can't have people coming in here helping themselves. "I don't want to see this happen to [the students] but we can't have losses like that," Gallagher added, refusing to specify the amount of merchandise stolen. Yet Gallagher's plan may not prevent students from shoplifting. A College freshman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he steals once or twice a week from the convenience store and has no plans to cut back. "Everything is free past 2 [a.m.] on the weekends," the College freshman said. "I don't think it's hurting them considering the business [students are] giving them. It doesn't justify it, but it's not such a cruel thing to the Wawa owner." The College freshman said that he usually shoplifts a Snapple, a Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pizza and a magazine on the weekend after drinking. He said that stealing is a more convenient option than waiting on the register lines. The College freshman added that the large crowds distract employees from preventing the shoplifting, and he has no fear of getting caught. "I wouldn't steal if I was at all nervous about [getting caught]," he said. "Every time I do steal I'm not going to get caught. If I see someone there watching, I'm not going to risk it."
(01/30/95 10:00am)
As the "information superhighway" speeds along, many people find it difficult not to get run over by all the new communication outlets that have been developed recently. Luckily for students at the University, Susan Ness, a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission, came to Philadelphia last week to shed some light on the subject of expanding communication and the government's role in managing that expansion. Ness lectured to over 40 students and faculty at the Annenberg School for Communications. Her speech was sponsored by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, as part of its "Women in the Public Sphere" lecture series. Annenberg Dean Kathleen Hall Jamieson said one of the reasons she and her assistant, Deborah Stinnet, chose Ness was because of her connection to the University. Ness received a Masters in Business Administration from the Wharton School in 1983. Ness said she, along with four other FCC commissioners, promotes fair competition in the communications market. The FCC itself was created by Congress as a bipartisan agency that is independently regulated, she added. There are basically five means of communication that the FCC is involved with -- wired, wireless, broadcasting, cable television and satellite. These areas, in addition to the costs of hookups and various other expenses, end up costing the government over $600 billion per year, she said. Since this cost is quickly growing, the need for regulation is becoming increasingly necessary, Ness said. Ness added that members of the FCC serve to develop, police and regulate the Internet -- the global data network that carries a large amount of the nation's electronic traffic. As an example of the role of the FCC and the issues that it faces, Ness brought up video dial tone --which is a "telco platform" for which consumers may apply. She said it is offered to multiple service providers on a common carrier basis to deliver video programming. Many students said they felt the evening was a success and are looking forward to future events. "This was a fantastic opportunity for this campus," said College junior Andrew Monfried, the president of the Undergraduate Communication Society. "With the recent communication explosion, including the frequent use of Resnet and electronic mail, Ness provided valuable information to anyone using any of the various communication outlets."
(01/30/95 10:00am)
America's Mayor wants four more years. And to kick it all off, Mayor Ed Rendell returned to the the same red-brick rowhouse in the Brewerytown section of Philadelphia to formally announce his campaign for re-election Saturday. "Four years ago I said we can do it and we have," Rendell said. "No one believed we could turn [this city] around. The experts said Philadelphia was dead." Echoing many statements he made last week during his annual budget address, Rendell stressed he had revitalized a city that was on the brink of insolvency three years ago. "I don't want all this good news to lead anybody?to think that the job is done," the mayor said to rousing applause. "If the job was done I'd be going elsewhere. Problems, serious problems, still remain. "And I promise you today if you help me get re-elected I will be here every day for the next five years and when I walk out of that office on the first Monday of the year 2000?I hope we can say we've made a great city what it should be." Rendell said that he had eradicated a $200 million deficit in 18 months, and balanced two consecutive budgets for the first time in a decade. And he stressed this was done without raising taxes or cutting services. As the mayor spoke, hundreds of loyal Rendell supporters packed the narrow street, despite the blustery weather. In addition, Rendell's opponents from the 1991 Democratic primary, George Burrell, Peter Hearn and Lucien Blackwell, attended the event to support the mayor. Before he spoke, Rendell visited Peggy Greenelee before addressing the crowd gathered in front of her house. When the mayor emerged, he was greeted to applause as the Polish American String Band played "Happy Days are Here Again." "Three years ago I introduced a private citizen by the name of Ed Rendell to kick off his campaign for mayor," Greenelee said. "At that time I thought he was our best hope to turn this city around. "I am back here today because I feel he did just that. He has made great strides in revitalizing the city and restoring Philadelphia to its former prominence." Some of the main topics of Rendell's speech included improving the Police Department, the Recreation Department, the Free Library, the Streets Department and the Health Department. "We are making progress in every single area of what we do," Rendell said. Throughout the speech, Rendell stressed the importance of City Council, businesses and volunteers in contributing to the cities comeback. "I didn't do it alone, however," he said. "I did it with great people who work for us in the city government. I did it with cooperation of the dedicated city council who also bit the bullet in tough and difficult times." I did it with ordinary Philadelphians, with volunteers who?didn't sit back and wait for the government to do it by themselves. They did it." But what Rendell stressed most was the need of the city to create economic incentives so the city can produce more jobs. "We've got to most of all get our people back to work," he said passionately. "Everywhere in this city people ask me for jobs." Rendell also discussed what he considers the greatest achievements during his term such as mayor. He mentioned the new Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Marriott Hotel at Market East, which opened last week, and new endeavors such as Spectrum Two, the Avenue of the Arts, and the new Shriner's Hospital. College sophomore David Ginsberg, a campaign worker for the Rendell Campaign, said he was excited about the mayor's speech and about his prospects for re-election. "The energy and enthusiasm he showed in kicking off his election campaign really shows the kind of energy he's been bringing and will continue to bring to the city," Ginsberg said. "It would be a tough race to go up against Mayor Rendell this time. College senior and campaign worker Eugene Wong said he thinks the University and the Rendell have a good relationship, especially with the Rodin administration. "It could be the beginning of a very fortuitous relationship between both of them," Wong said, adding that Rendell "is most arguably Penn's number one basketball fan."
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William "Bud" Pittinger, executive director of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and senior vice president for Health Services, suddenly left the University last week after five years of service. HUP Deputy Director Donald Snell will be appointed as interim executive director of HUP, Medical Center Chief Executive Officer and Medical School Dean William Kelley announced last week. Medical Center spokesperson Rebecca Harmon said Pittinger left because he could not agree on a new contract. According to Medical Center spokesperson Lori Doyle, Pittinger was escorted out of his office Wednesday evening by security guards. Pittinger refused to comment yesterday. Doyle said Pittinger's abrupt departure was nothing unusual and that assigning a guard to escort a high-ranking official from office was a common corporate security practice. "It's not uncommon for people in the business world," she said. Despite Doyle's contention that the security detail was a common practice, many rumors began circulating about the reasons for Pittinger's leaving the Medical Center, following his departure Wednesday. Harmon said that Pittinger left the University because his five year contract had expired and he was unable to renegotiate it. "The parties involved were not able to come to terms," Harmon said. "Bud's going to pursue some other professional interests." Kelley said in a statement that he was sorry to see Pittinger leave. "We regret Bud's departure, and we support his pursuit of professional interests outside the University of Pennsylvania Health System sphere," he said. "I have known and worked closely with Bud for more than 15 years -- both as a friend and professional colleague -- and, in all that time, he has demonstrated that he is bright, intelligent and talented executive." Pittinger joined the Medical Center in 1989 as Executive Director of HUP and Vice President of the Medical Center. In 1993, he advanced to the position of Senior Vice President for Health Services. Pittinger played an integral part in "conceptualizing" and "implementing" the Health system and its operations, according to a Medical Center statement. Prior to joining the University, Pittinger spent ten years at the University of Michigan Medical Center as chief operation officer of the department of internal medicine. Before working at Michigan, Pittinger was the first Executive Director of the Faculty Practice Plan at Temple University School of Medicine.
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A wave of forged and obscene newsgroup posting has raised questions about Internet security on campus. Data Communications and Computing Services has recently received at least six complaints concerning false return addresses on postings within the "Newswatcher" and "Trumpet" newsgroup programs, according to Associate Vice Provost of Information System and Computing Dan Updegrove. These computer-lab-run programs -- which are easier to use than the commonly used "tin" program -- allow students to post without logging on to one of the University's servers. The hacking incidents have reportedly originated in the High Rise South and Stouffer College House computer labs. And the messages have been posted on newsgroups such as upenn.talk, upenn.food and upenn.forsale, according to College junior Meng Weng Wong, an Internet expert. These programs, which allow posting without actually logging on, have led to forged messages, including obscenities and misrepresentations of University organizations such as the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity and the Daily Pennsylvanian. "I've been alive 46 years and I've never read words like this," Updegrove said. "If someone needs psychological help, then we'd like to get them psychological help." When College senior and President of Alpha Phi Omega Desiree Ramirez was writing a response to one obscene message that claimed to represent her fraternity, two more appeared on the newsgroup that claimed to be from her. She said she feels hurt and bewildered. "What did I do?" she said. "I didn't do anything. Why would this happen to poor little me?" Updegrove said that CDDS knew that abuse of these programs was always a possibility, but trusted Internet users to use the system wisely. According to Director of Planning and Engineering at DCCS George McKenna, it is extremely difficult to track individuals who abuse the system because they do not log on before they post. Wong, however, said that the University does have the ability to track the abuser. "He could be found and punished," Wong said. "I doubt the University has the balls to do it." McKenna said that educating other Internet users is also difficult. "You can teach people how to recognize a forged message, but even that's hard because they rip the headers off," he said. To combat the problem, Updegrove sent out a memo to all University computer labs Thursday essentially recommending they stop posting through programs which do not require identification. "We basically informed all the lab managers Thursday night that if they would like to have unauthenticated posting from the lab disabled to just let us know," he said. "One or two actors have spoiled it for the rest of the community," he said, adding that Internet hacking violates state and federal laws -- along with the Student Code of Conduct. Updegrove added that he is not limiting his search to University students, but considering staff and faculty as well.
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Gomrd yp nst ,su ypys; $30,000 or more Tammy Polonsky What started out as a night of weekend partying at Murphy's Tavern ended in citations for 30 underage drinkers and a $30,000 fine for the owners of the bar early Saturday morning. Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board officers raided Murph's, a bar at 43rd and Spruce Streets, known on campus as a haven for underage drinkers. Approximately 10 officers, wearing jackets with LCB badges on the sleeves, stormed into the bar at about 1 a.m., according to several students who were at the bar during the raid. The officers turned the lights on and the music off, and announced that undercover officers had been in the bar for an hour, watching people drink. Anyone who was at least 21 years old was told to show proof of age and leave the bar immediately. Approximately five students had proper identification. All remaining patrons were ordered to stay where they were and wait for further instructions. After collecting IDs from the remaining students, the officers let anyone who was 20 years old leave without being charged, according to a student who requested anonymity. Another student, who also asked not to be named, said he showed a bouncer his PENNcard to get into the bar the night of the raid. After giving an LCB officer his driver's license -- which states he is 19 years old -- he told the officer that he had not consumed any alcohol. The officer let the student leave without giving him a breathalizer test. Another student said one officer urged her to sign a citation. "He asked me what I was drinking and I told him I wasn't," she said. "He threatened to give me a breathalizer test. I admitted to drinking to avoid taking a test." The student signed a citation, stating that she is underage and that the officers saw her "transporting, consuming, possessing or purchasing alcohol." Anyone who signed a citation can go to court and plead innocent or guilty, according to the student who signed. If found guilty, the student would have to pay a fine. Students also have the option of taking an alcohol awareness class -- which costs $82.50. If students opt to take the course, then the incident will not appear on their records. Several students requesting anonymity told the Daily Pennsylvanian that 30 people received citations. Some students noted that there were more than 30 underage drinkers in the bar, although they could not give an exact number. Since Murph's received its liquor license in 1960, the LCB has issued the bar nine citations, all for serving alcohol to minors. Murph's license was suspended for a week on August 22 last year, but it was never revoked. Murph's license will be up for renewal at the end of the year. According to Bettina Bunting, an enforcement officer in the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement of the Pennsylvania State Police, Murph's can keep its license until the BLCE board makes its decision, which it will issue by Oct. 31 this year. Neither Murphy's Tavern owner Joe Murphy nor the LCB officers were available for comment last night.
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High school students solved the world's problems and created a lasting peace last weekend. At least in theory, anyway. The University's 11th annual Ivy League Model United Nations Conference drew more than 1,000 students from 52 high schools around the country. They met to discuss possible solutions to the problems facing society -- from nuclear proliferation to the conflict in Chechnya. The participating schools were assigned to research countries around the world, and each student assumed the role of ambassador. Opening ceremonies were held last Thursday night, beginning with keynote speaker Eviatar Manor, the consul general of Israel. Manor spoke of the problems facing Israel in the aftermath of the Cold War and Persian Gulf conflict, and his hope for eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace. Manor charged the students to "turn the world into a safer place, not one of conflict or death." College junior Nadav Shelef, the secretary-general of ILMUNC, and Engineering sophomore and Conference Affairs Director Rajeev Shah also spoke at the conference. They, along with 150 students at the convention, are active in the International Affairs Association, the University organization hosting the conference. Following the opening ceremonies, the "ambassadors" went directly into committee meetings. These meetings, modeled after actual U.N. committees, encouraged students to debate with one another using parliamentary procedure. Students drafted and voted upon proposals at special plenary sessions. In addition, students attended regional summits, where they attempted to settle disputes with neighboring countries. The ambassadors took a break from the work on Saturday night to attend a variety show and a performance by Without a Net, a campus improvisational comedy group. A "Delegate Dance" was held on Sunday. As part of the "Penn Program," about 60 high school students also visited the University campus and took tours conducted by Kite and Key. Admissions Regional Director William McCumber was available to answer questions. In order to aid those schools that could not afford the conference fees, the IAA distributed money to a number of schools, mostly in the Philadelphia area. According to Shelef, the goal of the conference was to show the high school students that "peace [can be] maintained, strengthened and expanded." Shah also said the conference worked to improve communication skills. "Our goal is to promote negotiation and consensus- building skills among the students who participate in our conference," he said. Many students said they found the convention fascinating. "I had a basic interest in what went on [at the conference]," said Fritz Porter, a student from Lawrenceville High School in New Jersey and a Chilean delegate. "I got a feel for what goes on [at the U.N.]." The weekend culminated in an award presentation for the best delegation and the most effective members of each committee. The overall award went to the Czech Republic role, played by Richland Northeast High School of Columbia, South Carolina. The ILMUNC, which is the largest model U.N. conference for high school students in the nation, was held at the Wyndham-Franklin Plaza Hotel in Center City.
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After a year of discussion, debate and compromise, subgroups of the Student Judicial Reform Committee have drafted documents that could change the way the justice is meted out at the University. The documents, which detail how alleged violations of the Code of Conduct and Code of Academic Integrity should be handled, will be available for comment before being finalized. College junior Ashley Magids, who chaired the academic integrity working group, said her subcommittee decided to create a separate system to deal with violations of the academic integrity code. She said this would simplify the judicial process -- and emphasize the importance of honesty in scholastic endeavors through the selection of a 16-member student Honor Council. With implementation of the new policies tentatively scheduled for next fall, College junior and student judicial charter working group chairperson Wilton Levine said he is pleased with his group's accomplishments. "In what we're proposing, we've really developed a system for students to be directly involved in overseeing the judicial process," Levine said. He added that the working group examined judicial charters from more than 15 other schools and combined their best features with the University's existing judicial system to fashion the new charter. The hallmark of the new charter is student involvement. It establishes a Student Judicial Council -- which will consist of five faculty members and 11 students, one of whom will act as chairperson -- to advise the Judicial Officer. The SJC's three-member executive committee would work with the JO to decide how cases progress through the judicial system, considering options ranging from dropping a case entirely to referring it to a hearing board of two faculty members and three students. Under the new charter, however, selected cases could be voluntarily referred to an on-campus mediation center, which would also be available to students trying to resolve disputes such as conflicts with roommates. If a case is referred to a hearing board, the complainant would not appear unless called as a witness, the draft document states. The respondent would be permitted to have an advisor present -- although that person would not be allowed to speak during any judicial proceedings. However, there is still one major point of contention in the proposal -- the working group believes that the hearing board's findings should be considered a decision, while Provost Stanley Chodorow contends that findings of fact should only take the form of recommendations to him or another administrator appointed by him. But Levine said he feels that judgement by one's peers would encourage students to feel "ownership" of their actions and the results of those actions, and would probably be harsher than rulings by administrators. The proposed charter states that appeals could only be advanced because of suspected bias or procedural error. They would still be read by the Provost, who would make a final decision. Penalties or sanctions imposed by the hearing board could not be increased by the Provost on appeal. Magids said her committee worked jointly with Levine's for much of the past year, because their projects were parallel in many ways and because alleged violations of both the Code of Conduct or the Code of Academic Integrity will go through the Judicial Office. The Honor Council would act as an advisory body, in a manner similar to that of the SJC, Magids added. It would assist the Provost in deciding whether to drop, settle or pursue a case. If the latter option is chosen, the Council would select the two student hearing board members for that case.
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Elaborate lion dances and exploding firecrackers were among the festivities that ushered in the Year of the Boar on Saturday at the University Museum. The 14th annual observance of the Chinese New Year boasted a large attendance of students, faculty and community members. Co-sponsored by the University Museum and the Chinese Students' Association, the celebration gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture. First-year Law students Conly Chi, Richard Au and Christine Chun said the New Year is the biggest event on the Chinese calendar, as it emphasizes new beginnings. Au said the New Year was a time to honor the family and pay respect to elders. People strolled from one end of the museum to the other, visiting various booths, galleries and exhibits. "The celebration was very educational," College freshman Jamillah Hoy said. "I learned a great deal about the New Year and its importance to the Chinese culture. It was definitely worthwhile and I will come again next year." Joe and Rita Carroll, ages eight and five, traveled with their parents from New Jersey to take part in the festivities. Joe Carroll said he enjoyed all of the events. Rita Carroll said she especially liked the puppet show and the hands-on activities, proudly displaying a red sheet of paper with her name written on it in Chinese calligraphy. Performances, activities and lectures highlighted the theme of celebration of Chinese heritage. In addition to the traditional Chinese lion dancing and firecracker parade, Saturday's events included Kung Fu exhibitions, lectures on Chinese Gods, brush painting workshops and Chinese cooking demonstrations. College sophomore Ed Lee and Wharton sophomore Derek Yan managed a booth of Chinese arts and crafts at the celebration. Lee said the event brought diversity to the University community and to the community at large. The majority of booths were staffed by students. According to CSA President and Engineering junior Steve Lin, more than a billion people worldwide will be celebrating the Chinese New Year. "I hope this shows people that CSA is about giving Penn students a chance to enjoy and learn more about the Chinese culture," he said.
